Bill H.3295
187th (2011 - 2012)

An Act relative to unborn children

Bill Title: An Act relative to unborn children

By Representatives deMacedo of Plymouth and Harrington of Groton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3295) of Viriato Manuel deMacedo, Sheila C. Harrington and others for legislation to require physicians to anesthetize the fetus prior to performing certain abortions. Public Health.

Chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 12M the following section:-

Section 12M½. For the purpose of preventing fetal pain, no physician shall perform an abortion unless the physician anesthetizes the fetus; except in the following circumstances: (i) in the reasonable clinical judgment of the physician, such administration of anesthesia to the fetus would cause serious risk to the life of the mother; (ii) in the reasonable clinical judgment of the physician, such administration of anesthesia to the fetus would cause serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the mother; (iii) in the reasonable clinical judgment of the physician, the pregnancy has not yet reached 20 weeks gestation; or (iv) the mother directs that anesthesia not be administered to the fetus.

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